NCJ Number
62217
Journal
RAMPARTS Volume: 9 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1970) Pages: 30-34,39
Date Published
1970
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS INTERVIEW WITH MEMBERS OF A BRAZILIAN REVOLUTIONARY GROUP ARTICULATES THEIR VIEWS ON THE ROLE OF URBAN GUERRILLA WARFARE, THE RELATION BETWEEN VIOLENCE AND POLITICS, AND TORTURE IN PRISONS.
Abstract
IN JUNE 1970, 44 MEMBERS OF ARMED BRAZILIAN REVOLUTIONARY GROUPS LEFT THEIR COUNTRY'S PRISONS AND BOARDED A TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT BOUND FOR ALGIERS. THEY WERE FREE BECAUSE THE WEST GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO BRAZIL HAD BEEN HELD HOSTAGE IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR RELEASE. IT WAS BRAZIL'S THIRD SUCH EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS IN LESS THAN A YEAR. FOUR REVOLUTIONARY GROUP MEMBERS WERE INTERVIEWED, RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CHOICE OF KIDNAPING AS A TACTIC FOR THE RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS, THE PLANNING OF VIOLENT ACTIVITIES, THE TACTICS OF URBAN AND RURAL GUERRILLA WARFARE, THE USE OF BOMBS, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BANK ROBBERIES, THE UNDERGROUND NATURE OF REVOLUTION, GUARDING AGAINST INFILTRATION BY GOVERNMENT SPIES, THE EMPLOYMENT OF ARMED TACTICS IN VIEW OF THE MINIMAL VIOLENCE IN BRAZILIAN HISTORY, THE RECRUITMENT OF REVOLUTIONARY GROUP MEMBERS, THE RELATION BETWEEN MILITARY AND POLITICAL STRATEGIES, THE PLATFORM OR PROGRAM OF THE REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT, CONDITIONS IN PRISONS, AND THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE STRUGGLE OF BRAZILIAN REVOLUTIONARY GROUPS. INTERVIEWEES ARE FOLLOWERS OF MARIGHELLA, THE LATE BRAZILIAN REVOLUTIONARY AND THEORIST OF URBAN GUERRILLA WARFARE. THEY VIEW KIDNAPING AS FAIR AND AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE TACTIC TO RELEASE FELLOW REVOLUTIONARIES FROM JAIL. THE REVOLUTIONARIES ARE NOT MILITARY PROFESSIONALS; RATHER, THEY ARE DETERMINED TO PROMOTE THEIR CAUSE AND TO ISOLATE THE GOVERNMENT. (DEP)